7 Oct 09: Lighting #2: Studio Lighting for portraits

Today we had our first session in the studio with Andy Farrington, taking pictures, to look at the effect of some different basic lighting set ups, shooting at f5.6 and 1/125. This was our basic set up:

Sam bravely volunteered to be the model for the day. After a bit of a chaotic start we took photos under 8 different lighting settings:
1. A single soft box at 45 degrees, at head height, on the RHS at the front. This light is not flattering, it creates shadow on one side of the face and the image is overexposed on the other side with a loss of detail in both shadow and highlight areas.

2. The light source was raised above head height. The light is softer and more flattering and the image has greater detail but there is still shadow and lack of detail on the right side of Sam's face.

3. A reflector was placed on the LHS to take away shadow which gives much better detail and a more flattering effect.

4. Now placing the soft box on the other side and slightly behind Sam created shadow right across the face. There is also some distracting flare on the back wall as light as leaking from the side of the soft box.

5. Now a second light was added, so that there was light from both sides and the aperture was shut down by half a stop to f6.3. The image looks softer and having light from the side and rear gives more dimension to the picture.

6.The light from the RHS was attached to a boom and raised overhead and slightly in front of Sam. The picture was taken from above with Same looking up towards the light. This is now creating a much warmer and softer look to the skin.

7. Sam held the reflector so that it directed the light upwards under her face. The light is still soft but with more light shining on her face now it doesn't make her skin as warm as in picture.

8. For our final picture of the day a back light was added at floor level to reflect light off the back wall. As a result the background to the picture is overexposed and there is some loss of detail in the highlights on Sam's face.

Learning points from the session:

• the closer you are to the subject the more intimate the portrait will be

• a 50mm or 85mm lens is a good starting point for portrait photography

• try directing the subject and telling them when you are going to take the photograph

• positioning the lights at different angles creates different shadows and effects:

    - 45 degrees at front and back mimics the sun

    - side lights bring out texture - useful for objects, perhaps less so for portraits

    - using back light and light from above emphasises structure and so is a good modelling light for portraits.

• Don't forget your sense of humour.

I had a look at the work of Russell Wright in his Men of Arlington series which shows how the use of light and shadow can be used with great effect to catch the character of the subject

www.russell-wright.com/portfolio/project/menofarlington